The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Me 94 THE MYSLERILS UF LONDSX. —————— awful a misereant as Old Death—the Bow Street func thing on a shelf close at hand; and, suddenly springing tionary conducted him into the laboratory, where a | aside, he seized upon a bottle—the particular object light happened to be burning, and the door of which for which he had been searching with his eager apartment Benjamin Bones closed cautiously behind | glances. them. “ Now, then—make haste, and tell us all you have | got to say,” said Dykes, eveing the old man suspi- ciously and in such a meaning fashion as to imply that any attempt at escape would assuredly prove abortive. “Mr. Dykes, you are a good man—and a kind man —Iknow yon are,” began Old Death, in a coaxing tone and with a manner indicating the most dreadful state of nervous excitement: “you would not like to see a poor, miserable old creature like mysclf sent to— to—the scaffold. No—no—you would not—you would not. But I know that it must be made worth your while—you understand me—and—and—I will give you all I have—yes, all I have—several thousand pounds—for I have got several thousands!” he added, with a ghastly grin. “But no one knows where they are except mysclf,—and you and I can go together to the place—and I will give you every guinea—yes, every guinea, Mr. Dykes—remember, every guinea I say—if vou will agree to this.” “Agree to what?” demanded Dykes, aflecting not to comprehend the old villain. “Oh! just as if you did n’t understand me, my dear friend—my good, kind friend!” exclaimed Benjamin Bones, becoming more coaxing in his tone, which was as low and subdued as his sepulchral voice would admit. “Do consider for an instant—an old man lie me to be in such trouble! You would n't be happy if you had it on your mind that you had been the means—the actual means of sending such a wretched creature as myself to the seafluld? Speak to me, Mr. Dykes! Five thousand pounds—yes—five thousand pounds, in good gold guineas—if—if——” “Tfwhat?” asked the officer, with the most pro- yoking determination not to understand any thing that was not explained in unmistakeable words. “If you—yon will let me escape!” whispered Old Death, while his eyes seemed to penetrate to the very soul of the man towards whom he bent ina confidential way a3 he spoke. “ Now that’s English,” said Dykes, whose counte- nance gave not the least indication of the manner in which he intended to receive the proposition. “And—and you will agree, won't you?” asked Bones. “ Remember—five thousand guineas—all to be paid in one lump—this very night——” « Well, now—it can’t be done, old chap,” interrupted Dykes, in 2 cool—almost brutal manner, as if he were glod of the opportunity to encourage hope fora time, merely for the sake of destroying it with a rude hand and in an abrupt way. “Jt can’t be done,” murmured Old Death, despair seizing upon him: “it can’t be done, you say ?"—=and his eyes glanced wildly around. “13 this all you have to tell me?” demanded the officer. ‘Because, if so——” “ Five thousand guineas !—and he refuses it!” ejacu- lated Bones. “My God! what will become of me?— what will become of me?” And still his looks wandered rapidly about the apart- ment “Now, then—let us go back into the next room, if you please,” said Dykes; " for I don’t see no use in staying here, wasting our time.” At that instant Old Death’s eves settled upon some- Eee ee ee ees Dykes, wichout even having a moment’s leisure to make a single conjecture relative to his intentions, but instiuctively foreseeing that something wrong was contemplated, closed upon the old man in an instant. With the speed of lightning did Benjamin Bones raise the bottle which his right hand grasped; and in less than the twinkling of an eye would it have been smashed down upon the officer, who, seeing his danger, by a natural impulse held down his head—when a yell of agony burst from the lips of the old miscreant. For, as he raised the bottle, the glass stopper fell out, and the burning vitriol strcamed down on his head and over his countenance, a few drops only fall- ing upon Dykes, and those principally on his clothes. The officer instantaneously fell back; and Old Death threw himself on the floor. where he rolled in horrid agonies—writhing like a stricken snake, and shricking franticly, “Oh! my eyes! my eyes!” Bingham and the subordinate functionaries rushed in from the adjoining apartment; and, having assured themselves that Dykes was unhurt—althongh his escape from the burning fluid was truly miraculous— they turned their attention towards Old Death. One of them obtained water, and dashed it over him; but still he rolled and writhed—uttering dreadful cries, mingled with horrid imprecations—and rubbing his face madly with his hands. For the miserable wretch was burnt in an apalling manner; and his sight was gone! - We must pause fora single moment to explain his desigsn—that design which so signally failed and brought down such frightful consequences upon him- self. Perceiving that all hope of being able to bribe Mr. Dykes was frustrated, he thought of the only alternative that could possibly be attempted—an es- ‘cape, «At the same instant that this last idea was formed, it flashed to his mind that Dr. Lascelles had been accustomed to keep many deadly poisons and ardent fluids in the Inaboratory. IHis eyes wanderea round in search of them; and they lighted upon a large bottle, labelled “ Vitriol.” To break it over the officer’s head, and escape in the confusion that must ensue by means of the litle chamber which had once been his bed-room, and which, as the reader may recollect, had two doors—one opening from the labora- tory, and the other into apartments beyond,—this was the hastily conceived but discomfitted design of Old Death! The desperate project had failed—and in a desperate manner, too: for the miscreant had received mortal injuries—and his sufferings were horrible. <A pint of vitriol had streamed over his head—penetrating be- neath his clothes, all down his neck and chest—burning him horribly, even to his very eyes in their sockets! Rainford, alarmed by the hideous yells which had reached him in another part of the spacious house, rushed into the laboratory to ascertain the cause, hav- ing begged Mr. de Medina and Esther to await his return. At the same instant that he entered by one doar, Jacob Smith made his appearance by another; and Dykes hastily explained what had occurred. Rainford accordingly issued immediate orders to trans- port the dying man to a bed-chamber ; and fortunately, at this crisis, Dr. Lascelles arrived at the house. The physician had been alarmed by the rumours which prevailed relative to the incidents that hod oc- EConnicloooks (SO)